What do I do with…?

We throw away all sorts of items from our homes every day. There are lots of things that are thrown in the bin that can actually be recycled, such as batteries, clothes and electrical items. So before you bin it, have a look through this handy A-Z guide to help you recycle as much as you can and to dispose of your waste safely.

Asbestos

Our facilities where high sided vehicles and council vehicles are closed to the public, therefore you currently cannot dispose asbestos, gypsum or plasterboard from your home. Please do not carry ...

Our facilities where high sided vehicles and council vehicles are closed to the public, therefore you currently cannot dispose asbestos, gypsum or plasterboard from your home. Please do not carry out DIY projects that would involve the removal of these materials unless you have safe and secure storage.

Please visit the HSE website before you attempt to handle or remove asbestos.

If you have hired someone to remove the asbestos

If you have hired someone to remove the asbestos for you, it can’t be disposed of at any of our sites because this is classed as business waste. The tradesperson or builder should dispose of the asbestos according to the HSE guidance.

Bric a brac

If you have unwanted crockery, pictures, ornaments, or other bric-a-brac items that are still in good usable condition, you could save them and take them to charity shops or local reuse organisatio...

If you have unwanted crockery, pictures, ornaments, or other bric-a-brac items that are still in good usable condition, you could save them and take them to charity shops or local reuse organisations when they reopen.

If they are broken you can put them in your general waste bin or take them to a Recycling Centre for disposal.

Building materials

You can take building materials from DIY projects to a Recycling Centre. Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repair or alterations to your h...

You can take building materials from DIY projects to a Recycling Centre.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repair or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our Recycling Centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Choose to reuse

Cardboard

Cardboard boxes and all others types of card can be recycled in your paper and card bin at home. Flatten them to save space in your bin. Make sure you remove all non-paper items like bubble wrap, p...

Cardboard boxes and all others types of card can be recycled in your paper and card bin at home. Flatten them to save space in your bin. Make sure you remove all non-paper items like bubble wrap, plastic packaging and polystyrene and put them in your general waste bin.

This includes:

Cardboard packaging (such as empty cereal boxes)

Kitchen roll and toilet roll tubes

Cardboard boxes

Greeting cards (tear off any glitter)

Clothes labels or tags

You can take cardboard boxes to a Recycling Centre, please only visit if you really need to.

Top Tip

Large cardboard sheets are useful in the garden as a weed suppressing mulch when covered with compost. Shredded cardboard also makes great animal bedding.

Carpet

Recycling Centres are currently not accepting carpets. Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repair or alterations to your home is classed as bu...

Recycling Centres are currently not accepting carpets.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repair or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our Recycling Centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Christmas trees (artificial)

Christmas trees (real)

Depending on where you live, you might be able to recycle your real tree at home. Everyone living in Greater Manchester can take their Christmas trees to any of the Recycling Centres for free. B...

Depending on where you live, you might be able to recycle your real tree at home. Everyone living in Greater Manchester can take their Christmas trees to any of the Recycling Centres for free.

Before you recycle your Chrismas tree:

remove all decorations and fairy lights

take off the base or wooden block if your tree has one

make sure the trunk is not thicker than your wrist. Wood thicker than your wrist is too big and can’t be put in the garden and food bin. You can take large trunks and wooden bases to a Recycling Centre.

Clinical waste

The following items are classed as clinical waste: Blood
Human or animal tissue
Syringes Please seek advice from your GP or medical practice for how to dispose of clinical waste safe...

The following items are classed as clinical waste:

Blood

Human or animal tissue

Syringes

Please seek advice from your GP or medical practice for how to dispose of clinical waste safely. Some councils provide a home collection service for clinical waste – check with your local council for more details.

Please DO NOT put clinical waste in any of your bins at home or take them to any Recycling Centres.

The food and garden waste is delivered to an In-Vessel composting facility and made into compost in 6 -10 weeks. Compostable packaging takes much longer to break down, sometimes it can take years. This means that they won’t be composted in the same time as your food and garden waste.

Cooked and uncooked food

Cooked and uncooked food can be recycled in your food and garden bin at home. Food waste can't be recycled at any of the 20 Recycling Centres across Greater Manchester. This is because the Recyc...

Cooked and uncooked food can be recycled in your food and garden bin at home.

Food waste can’t be recycled at any of the 20 Recycling Centres across Greater Manchester. This is because the Recycling Centres are not licensed to accept segregated food waste.

You will most likely have a kitchen caddy to collect your food waste in. Make sure the caddy has a compostable liner inside.

Do not use plastic or biodegradable bags in your kitchen caddy. Only use compostable liners with the seedling logo with reference code EN13432 to make sure they are compostable. Newspaper is not a suitable alternative to line your caddy as it inhibits the composting process.

Compostable liners are either available from your local council or most supermarkets.

D

DIY waste

Recycling Centres are accepting some DIY waste, this includes: garden waste
hardcore and rubble (bricks, soil and tiles)
scrap metal
wood and timber Any waste produced by t...

Recycling Centres are accepting some DIY waste, this includes:

garden waste

hardcore and rubble (bricks, soil and tiles)

scrap metal

wood and timber

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repair or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our Recycling Centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Drinking glasses

Broken drinking glasses should be wrapped securely and placed into your general waste bin. Donate drinking glasses that are still in good conditions to charity shops. Drinking glasses or wine...

Broken drinking glasses should be wrapped securely and placed into your general waste bin.

Donate drinking glasses that are still in good conditions to charity shops.

Drinking glasses or wine glasses can’t be recycled in your mixed recycling bin at home. This is because they are made out of toughened glass containing chemicals that can’t be recycled with your glass bottles and jars.

Fireworks

If you are hosting a fireworks display, follow these steps to dispose of your used fireworks safely.
• Get a bucket of water ready before you start your display
• Soak your used fireworks for at ...

If you are hosting a fireworks display, follow these steps to dispose of your used fireworks safely. • Get a bucket of water ready before you start your display • Soak your used fireworks for at least 15 minutes, overnight if possible • Wrap your soaked fireworks in a plastic bag • Put it in your general waste bin or take it to your local Recycling Centre

For any unused fireworks, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service run a fireworks amnesty where they will collect and dispose of your unused fireworks safely. Call 0800 555 815 for information.

You can also recycle garden waste at a Recycling Centre. If you are taking food and garden waste to a Recycling Centre, it must be separated. If you take a mixed bag of food and garden waste it will have to go in the non-recyclable containers. This is because the Recycling Centres are not licensed to accept food waste.

You can also compost your garden waste in a home compost bin. Reduced price compost bins are available from Get Composting.

Foil and foil trays

Clean aluminium foil and foil trays can be recycled in your mixed recycling bin at home. This does not include foil wrapped crisp packets or pet food pouches. These items can look like aluminium...

Clean aluminium foil and foil trays can be recycled in your mixed recycling bin at home.

This does not include foil wrapped crisp packets or pet food pouches. These items can look like aluminium foil but are actually made from metallised plastic film. Some food brands have partnered with Terracycle to recycle crisp packets and food pouches. Check for a recycling drop off point near you. If there isn’t a recycling point near you, put these should in your general waste bin.

To find out if an item is foil or metallised plastic film, do the scrunch test. Simply scrunch the item in your hand – if it stays ‘scrunched’ it is foil and can be recycled. If it springs back it is probably metallised plastic film.

Fridges and freezers

Recycling Centres are currently not accepting fridges and freezers. Check with your local council if they offer bulky waste collections.
Choose to reuse
If your large electrical item, such as ...

Recycling Centres are currently not accepting fridges and freezers.

Check with your local council if they offer bulky waste collections.

Choose to reuse

If your large electrical item, such as a washing machine, is still working and in a reusable condition, your local reuse organisation may be able to refurbish it and give it a new lease of life and a new home.

Often shops will collect your unwanted electricals when they deliver your new one – especially larger items like TVs, fridges and freezers (some retailers may charge to collect electrical items).

You can take garden waste (no soil or food waste) to a Recycling Centre, please only visit if you really need to.

Any garden waste produced by tradespeople or gardeners you hired to carry out improvements or maintenance to your garden is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our Recycling Centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Gift wrap

Plain gift wrapping paper can be recycled in your paper and card bin. You can only recycle wrapping paper entirely made out of paper. Some wrapping paper that is made out of foil, plastic or con...

Plain gift wrapping paper can be recycled in your paper and card bin.

You can only recycle wrapping paper entirely made out of paper. Some wrapping paper that is made out of foil, plastic or contains glitter can’t be recycled. Put this type of paper in your general waste bin.

You can also recycle garden waste at a Recycling Centre. If you are taking food and garden waste to a Recycling Centre, it must be separated. If you take a mixed bag of food and garden waste it will have to go in the non-recyclable containers. This is because the Recycling Centres are not licensed to accept food waste.

You can also compost your garden waste in a home compost bin. Reduced price compost bins are available from Get Composting.

Greetings cards and wrapping paper

You can recycle greetings cards and paper wrapping paper in your paper and card bin at home. You can only recycle greetings cards and wrapping paper if they're entirely made out of paper. Some a...

You can recycle greetings cards and paper wrapping paper in your paper and card bin at home. You can only recycle greetings cards and wrapping paper if they’re entirely made out of paper.

Some are made out of foil, plastic and glitter. None of these can be recycled and microplastics such as glitter can’t be separated from the paper fibres during the recycling process. Tear off any glittery parts or non-paper decorations and put them in your general waste bin. Make sure you also remove any bows or ribbons before recycling your wrapping paper.

Not sure if your wrapping paper is made of paper? Try to scrunch up the paper into a ball. If it stays scrunched, it can be recycled.

Gypsum

Our facilities where high sided vehicles and council vehicles are currently closed, therefore you cannot dispose asbestos, gypsum or plasterboard from your home. Please do not carry out DIY projec...

Our facilities where high sided vehicles and council vehicles are currently closed, therefore you cannot dispose asbestos, gypsum or plasterboard from your home. Please do not carry out DIY projects that would involve the removal of these materials unless you have safe and secure storage.

If you have hired someone to remove the plasterboard or gypsum

The tradesperson or builder should dispose of it for you. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote. If you are disposing of the plasterboard or gypsum yourself, you will be charged as this is classed as business waste.

H

Hardcore and rubble

You can take hardcore and rubble to a Recycling Centre. Do not put rubble or soil in any of your bins at home. Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out imp...

You can take hardcore and rubble to a Recycling Centre.

Do not put rubble or soil in any of your bins at home.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repair or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our Recycling Centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

You can also recycle garden waste at a Recycling Centre. If you are taking food and garden waste to a Recycling Centre, it must be separated. If you take a mixed bag of food and garden waste it will have to go in the non-recyclable containers. This is because the Recycling Centres are not licensed to accept food waste.

You can also compost your garden waste in a home compost bin. Reduced price compost bins are available from Get Composting.

Invasive weeds

Do not put invasive weeds in your food and garden bin and do not take it to your Recycling Centre. The in vessel composting process will not kill or prevent the spreading of invasive weeds such as ...

Do not put invasive weeds in your food and garden bin and do not take it to your Recycling Centre. The in vessel composting process will not kill or prevent the spreading of invasive weeds such as Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam.

Invasive weeds are classed as hazardous waste and removal of these should be done under the guidance provided by the Environment Agency.

J

Japanese Knotweed

Do not put Japanese Knotweed in your food and garden bin and do not take it to your Recycling Centre. The in vessel composting process will not kill or prevent the spreading of invasive weeds such ...

Do not put Japanese Knotweed in your food and garden bin and do not take it to your Recycling Centre. The in vessel composting process will not kill or prevent the spreading of invasive weeds such as Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam.

Japanese Knotwood is classed as hazardous waste and removal of this should be done under the guidance provided by the Environment Agency.

This does not include crisp packets or pet food pouches. These items can look like aluminium foil but are actually made from metallised plastic film. You can take them to a Terracycle recycling drop off point or put them in your general waste bin.

L

Large electrical items

Recycling Centres are currently not accepting large electrical items. Please store them safely or contact your council to see if they offer a bulky waste collection service. Do not put any el...

Recycling Centres are currently not accepting large electrical items.

Please store them safely or contact your council to see if they offer a bulky waste collection service.

Do not put any electrical items in your bins at home.

Choose to reuse

If your large electrical items are still working and in a reusable condition, your local reuse organisation may be able to refurbish/fix it and give it a new lease of life and a new home.

Or try online. You can pass on items for free on websites.

Often shops will collect your unwanted electricals when they deliver your new one – especially larger items like TV’s, fridges and freezers (please note that some retailers may charge to collect electrical items).

Leaves

Leaves can be recycled at home in your food and garden bin. Other garden waste that can be recycled at home includes: flowers and plants
grass cuttings
hedge clippings
twigs and s...

Leaves can be recycled at home in your food and garden bin.

Other garden waste that can be recycled at home includes:

flowers and plants

grass cuttings

hedge clippings

twigs and small branches

weeds (no Japanese Knotwood or Himalayan Balsam)

You can also recycle garden waste at your local Recycling Centre. If you are taking food and garden waste to a Recycling Centre, it must be separated. If you take a mixed bag of food and garden waste it will have to go in the non-recyclable containers. This is because the Recycling Centres are not licensed to accept food waste.

You can also compost your garden waste in a home compost bin. Reduced price compost bins are available from Get Composting.

Medicines and tablets

Medicines and tablets are classed as hazardous waste so can't go in your bins at home. If you have any left over medicines you should check with your local pharmacy as they will normally take them ...

Medicines and tablets are classed as hazardous waste so can’t go in your bins at home. If you have any left over medicines you should check with your local pharmacy as they will normally take them back for disposal.

Metal tins and boxes

Large metal tins like sweet and biscuit tins can't be recycled in your mixed recycling bin at home. This is because they are too large to be properly sorted in the Materials Recovery Facility.
Reu...

Large metal tins like sweet and biscuit tins can’t be recycled in your mixed recycling bin at home. This is because they are too large to be properly sorted in the Materials Recovery Facility. Reuse them for storage or take them to a Recycling Centre and put them in the scrap metal container.

Milk bottles

You can recycle plastic and glass milk bottles in your mixed recycling bin. Please remove all lids from plastic bottles before putting them in your mixed recycling bin. Plastic lids can't be rec...

You can recycle plastic and glass milk bottles in your mixed recycling bin.

Please remove all lids from plastic bottles before putting them in your mixed recycling bin. Plastic lids can’t be recycled with the rest of the recycling as they are made of a different type of plastic.

Paper coffee cups

Paper coffee cups can't be recycled in your paper and card bin. This is because they are lined with plastic that is bonded to the cup to help them to hold liquid without making the cup go soggy.
P...

Paper coffee cups can’t be recycled in your paper and card bin. This is because they are lined with plastic that is bonded to the cup to help them to hold liquid without making the cup go soggy. Please put disposable coffee cups in your general waste bin.

Pet food

You can recycle pet food at home in your food and garden bin. Please note that food waste can't be recycled at any of the 20 Recycling Centres across Greater Manchester. This is because the Recy...

You can recycle pet food at home in your food and garden bin.

Please note that food waste can’t be recycled at any of the 20 Recycling Centres across Greater Manchester. This is because the Recycling Centres are not licensed to accept segregated food waste.

You will most likely have a kitchen caddy to collect your food waste in. Make sure the caddy has a compostable liner inside. Do not use newspaper, plastic or biodegradable bags in your kitchen caddy, as they inhibit the composting process.

Only use compostable liners with the seedling logo with reference code EN13432 to make sure they are compostable. Compostable liners are either available from your local council or most supermarkets.

Pet food pouches

Terracycle offer free recycling programmes funded by brands, manufacturers, and retailers to help you collect and recycle your hard-to-recycle plastic. This includes things like, crisp packets, food pouches and plastic tubes. Find a recycling point near you.

If there is not a recycling point near you, please put them in your general waste bin.

Plasterboard

Our facilities where high sided vehicles and council vehicles are currently closed to the public, therefore you currently cannot dispose asbestos, gypsum or plasterboard from your home. Please do ...

Our facilities where high sided vehicles and council vehicles are currently closed to the public, therefore you currently cannot dispose asbestos, gypsum or plasterboard from your home. Please do not carry out DIY projects that would involve the removal of these materials unless you have safe and secure storage.

If you have hired someone to remove the plasterboard or gypsum

The tradesperson or builder should dispose of it for you. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote. If you are disposing of the plasterboard or gypsum yourself, you will be charged as this is classed as business waste.

Pyrex ovenware is a type of glass but it has been specially treated in the manufacturing process to withstand high temperatures. Therefore, it melts at a different temperature during the recycling process, making it non-recyclable.

Rugs

If you have a rug that is in good condition, you could donate it to a charity shop or reuse organisation. You can also give them away for free online or you could try selling it online.
Choose ...

If you have a rug that is in good condition, you could donate it to a charity shop or reuse organisation.

You can also give them away for free online or you could try selling it online.

Choose to reuse

Local gardeners or gardening groups may be interested in using your old carpet. It is useful for insulating compost heaps and keeping weeds at bay on vegetable plots and on paths. Wool rich carpets also make a very good mulch!

If you are building a garden pond, use old carpet to line it before you put the pond liner in – it protects the liner from sharp stones

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repair or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our Recycling Centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Soil

You can take garden soil to a Recycling Centre. Please transport it in robust sacks. Soil can't go in your food and garden bin at home as it will affect the quality of the compost produced. ...

You can take garden soil to a Recycling Centre. Please transport it in robust sacks.

Soil can’t go in your food and garden bin at home as it will affect the quality of the compost produced. This is because soil is a mineral and may also contain other potentially toxic elements like heavy metals.

Any garden waste produced by tradespeople or gardeners you hired to carry out improvements or maintenance to your garden is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our Recycling Centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Staples

You do not have to remove staples from magazines or newspapers before you put them in your paper and card bin. During the recycling process, paper is screened to remove items like staples, paper cl...

You do not have to remove staples from magazines or newspapers before you put them in your paper and card bin. During the recycling process, paper is screened to remove items like staples, paper clips and other debris.

Tiles (Floor and wall)

You can take tiles from DIY projects from home to a Recycling Centre as long as you carried out the work yourself. Tiles go in the hardcore and rubble container. Any waste produced by trades...

You can take tiles from DIY projects from home to a Recycling Centre as long as you carried out the work yourself. Tiles go in the hardcore and rubble container.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repair or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our Recycling Centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Timber and wood

You can take timber and wood to a Recycling Centre, please only visit if you really need to.
Please minimise your waste as much as possible by avoiding doing any large DIY projects or clear outs.
...

You can take timber and wood to a Recycling Centre, please only visit if you really need to.

Please minimise your waste as much as possible by avoiding doing any large DIY projects or clear outs.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repair or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our Recycling Centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

You can also recycle garden waste at your local Recycling Centre. If you are taking food and garden waste to a Recycling Centre, it must be separated. If you take a mixed bag of food and garden waste it will have to go in the non-recyclable container. This is because the Recycling Centres are not licensed to accept food waste.

You can also compost your garden waste in a home compost bin. Reduced price compost bins are available from Get Composting.

W

Wallpaper

Wallpaper can't be recycled in your paper and card bin. Please put any new or used wallpaper in your general waste bin. You can donate leftover rolls of wallpaper to some charity shops. A...

Wallpaper can’t be recycled in your paper and card bin. Please put any new or used wallpaper in your general waste bin.

You can donate leftover rolls of wallpaper to some charity shops.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repair or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our Recycling Centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Weeds (no Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam)

Weeds such as dandelions, nettles, sheep's sorrel and other non-invasive weeds can go in your food and garden bin at home. You can also take them to a Recycling Centre with your garden waste. Yo...

Weeds such as dandelions, nettles, sheep’s sorrel and other non-invasive weeds can go in your food and garden bin at home. You can also take them to a Recycling Centre with your garden waste.

You can’t put invasive weeds in your food and garden bin or take them to your local Recycling Centre. The In Vessel Composting process will not kill or prevent the spreading of invasive weeds such as Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam.

Invasive weeds are classed as ‘hazardous waste’ and removal of these should be done under the guidance provided by the Environment Agency. For more information, please visit www.gov.uk.

Wool

X

X-mas trees

You can take your real Christmas tree to a Recycling Centre. Remove all decorations and remove the wooden block from the base of the tree as this is too big to be composted. It can be placed in th...

You can take your real Christmas tree to a Recycling Centre. Remove all decorations and remove the wooden block from the base of the tree as this is too big to be composted. It can be placed in the wood container.

Some councils will collect your Christmas tree with your food and garden bin and some also have designated Christmas tree recycling points.

If you have an artificial tree, you can take it to your local Recycling Centre. Put it in the non-recyclable container.

#RecyclingCentres This is a staged reopening &we hope to add more recycling containers in the coming weeks.
Currently you can bring:
✅rubble
✅scrap metal
✅general waste
✅cardboard
✅garden waste
✅wood
⚠️ Please store other items at home &only visit if you really need to pic.twitter.com/xAZSts6rSd

Get your question answered quickly

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Why can I not recycle other types of plastic in my mixed recycling bin?

The only types of plastic you can recycle in your mixed recycling bin at home are plastic bottles.

Why only plastic bottles? A bottle and a food tray are made of the same type of plastic but not the same grade of plastic, therefore the grades of plastic will behave differently when they are recycled, as they melt at different temperatures. Our Materials Recycling Facility cannot sort between the different grade of plastics, and so they can’t be recycled together.

There are really good reasons why we can only recycle plastic bottles in Greater Manchester:

1. Manufacturers that make new products demand high grade plastics. High Grade = Plastic Bottles.2. Plastics like pots, tubs and trays are a low grade plastic and the manufacturers just don’t want these.3. During the recycling process, the plastic is melted. Plastic bottles and plastic pots, tubs and trays melt at different temperatures, meaning the pots, tubs and trays contaminate the bottles and can’t be used to make new products.4. Other areas may collect plastic pots, tubs and trays, but currently very little is recycled. Most of it is used to make electricity.

How do I request a new recycling bin/container?

You can also complete the online order form or order a new recycling bin orcontainer in person at the One Stop Shop in Bolton Town Hall.

Where can I order more food caddy liners from?

How to order more compostable food bags

When you are running low on liners, please tie an empty liner around the handle of your food waste container or green bin on collection day and the crew will leave you a new roll of liners.

You can also visit the One Stop Shop at Bolton Town Hall or the UCAN centres for replacement rolls of liners.

To find out where your nearest UCAN Centre is visit the Bolton council website.

Why can I not recycle other types of plastic in my mixed recycling bin?

The only types of plastic you can recycle in your mixed recycling bin at home are plastic bottles.

Why only plastic bottles? A bottle and a food tray are made of the same type of plastic but not the same grade of plastic, therefore the grades of plastic will behave differently when they are recycled, as they melt at different temperatures. Our Materials Recycling Facility cannot sort between the different grade of plastics, and so they can’t be recycled together.

There are really good reasons why we can only recycle plastic bottles in Greater Manchester:

1. Manufacturers that make new products demand high grade plastics. High Grade = Plastic Bottles.2. Plastics like pots, tubs and trays are a low grade plastic and the manufacturers just don’t want these.3. During the recycling process, the plastic is melted. Plastic bottles and plastic pots, tubs and trays melt at different temperatures, meaning the pots, tubs and trays contaminate the bottles and can’t be used to make new products.4. Other areas may collect plastic pots, tubs and trays, but currently very little is recycled. Most of it is used to make electricity.

How do I report a missed bin collection?

Why can I not recycle other types of plastic in my mixed recycling bin?

The only types of plastic you can recycle in your mixed recycling bin at home are plastic bottles.

Why only plastic bottles? A bottle and a food tray are made of the same type of plastic but not the same grade of plastic, therefore the grades of plastic will behave differently when they are recycled, as they melt at different temperatures. Our Materials Recycling Facility cannot sort between the different grade of plastics, and so they can’t be recycled together.

There are really good reasons why we can only recycle plastic bottles in Greater Manchester:

1. Manufacturers that make new products demand high grade plastics. High Grade = Plastic Bottles.2. Plastics like pots, tubs and trays are a low grade plastic and the manufacturers just don’t want these.3. During the recycling process, the plastic is melted. Plastic bottles and plastic pots, tubs and trays melt at different temperatures, meaning the pots, tubs and trays contaminate the bottles and can’t be used to make new products.4. Other areas may collect plastic pots, tubs and trays, but currently very little is recycled. Most of it is used to make electricity.

How do I report a missed bin collection?

Why can I not recycle other types of plastic in my mixed recycling bin?

The only types of plastic you can recycle in your mixed recycling bin at home are plastic bottles.

Why only plastic bottles? A bottle and a food tray are made of the same type of plastic but not the same grade of plastic, therefore the grades of plastic will behave differently when they are recycled, as they melt at different temperatures. Our Materials Recycling Facility cannot sort between the different grade of plastics, and so they can’t be recycled together.

There are really good reasons why we can only recycle plastic bottles in Greater Manchester:

1. Manufacturers that make new products demand high grade plastics. High Grade = Plastic Bottles.2. Plastics like pots, tubs and trays are a low grade plastic and the manufacturers just don’t want these.3. During the recycling process, the plastic is melted. Plastic bottles and plastic pots, tubs and trays melt at different temperatures, meaning the pots, tubs and trays contaminate the bottles and can’t be used to make new products.4. Other areas may collect plastic pots, tubs and trays, but currently very little is recycled. Most of it is used to make electricity.

How do I report a missed bin collection?

Why can I not recycle other types of plastic in my mixed recycling bin?

The only types of plastic you can recycle in your mixed recycling bin at home are plastic bottles.

Why only plastic bottles? A bottle and a food tray are made of the same type of plastic but not the same grade of plastic, therefore the grades of plastic will behave differently when they are recycled, as they melt at different temperatures. Our Materials Recycling Facility cannot sort between the different grade of plastics, and so they can’t be recycled together.

There are really good reasons why we can only recycle plastic bottles in Greater Manchester:

1. Manufacturers that make new products demand high grade plastics. High Grade = Plastic Bottles.2. Plastics like pots, tubs and trays are a low grade plastic and the manufacturers just don’t want these.3. During the recycling process, the plastic is melted. Plastic bottles and plastic pots, tubs and trays melt at different temperatures, meaning the pots, tubs and trays contaminate the bottles and can’t be used to make new products.4. Other areas may collect plastic pots, tubs and trays, but currently very little is recycled. Most of it is used to make electricity.

Where can I order more food caddy liners from?

How to order more compostable food bags

To request for more compostable food bags, attach the yellow tag found towards the end of the roll to your brown food and garden bin or street food caddy. The collection crew will leave you a new roll or you can collect free compostable liners from any of the libraries in Rochdale.

How do I report a missed bin collection?

Why can I not recycle other types of plastic in my mixed recycling bin?

The only types of plastic you can recycle in your mixed recycling bin at home are plastic bottles.

Why only plastic bottles? A bottle and a food tray are made of the same type of plastic but not the same grade of plastic, therefore the grades of plastic will behave differently when they are recycled, as they melt at different temperatures. Our Materials Recycling Facility cannot sort between the different grade of plastics, and so they can’t be recycled together.

There are really good reasons why we can only recycle plastic bottles in Greater Manchester:

1. Manufacturers that make new products demand high grade plastics. High Grade = Plastic Bottles.2. Plastics like pots, tubs and trays are a low grade plastic and the manufacturers just don’t want these.3. During the recycling process, the plastic is melted. Plastic bottles and plastic pots, tubs and trays melt at different temperatures, meaning the pots, tubs and trays contaminate the bottles and can’t be used to make new products.4. Other areas may collect plastic pots, tubs and trays, but currently very little is recycled. Most of it is used to make electricity.

How do I report a missed bin collection?

Why can I not recycle other types of plastic in my mixed recycling bin?

The only types of plastic you can recycle in your mixed recycling bin at home are plastic bottles.

Why only plastic bottles? A bottle and a food tray are made of the same type of plastic but not the same grade of plastic, therefore the grades of plastic will behave differently when they are recycled, as they melt at different temperatures. Our Materials Recycling Facility cannot sort between the different grade of plastics, and so they can’t be recycled together.

There are really good reasons why we can only recycle plastic bottles in Greater Manchester:

1. Manufacturers that make new products demand high grade plastics. High Grade = Plastic Bottles.2. Plastics like pots, tubs and trays are a low grade plastic and the manufacturers just don’t want these.3. During the recycling process, the plastic is melted. Plastic bottles and plastic pots, tubs and trays melt at different temperatures, meaning the pots, tubs and trays contaminate the bottles and can’t be used to make new products.4. Other areas may collect plastic pots, tubs and trays, but currently very little is recycled. Most of it is used to make electricity.

How do I report a missed bin collection?

Why can I not recycle other types of plastic in my mixed recycling bin?

The only types of plastic you can recycle in your mixed recycling bin at home are plastic bottles.

Why only plastic bottles? A bottle and a food tray are made of the same type of plastic but not the same grade of plastic, therefore the grades of plastic will behave differently when they are recycled, as they melt at different temperatures. Our Materials Recycling Facility cannot sort between the different grade of plastics, and so they can’t be recycled together.

There are really good reasons why we can only recycle plastic bottles in Greater Manchester:

1. Manufacturers that make new products demand high grade plastics. High Grade = Plastic Bottles.2. Plastics like pots, tubs and trays are a low grade plastic and the manufacturers just don’t want these.3. During the recycling process, the plastic is melted. Plastic bottles and plastic pots, tubs and trays melt at different temperatures, meaning the pots, tubs and trays contaminate the bottles and can’t be used to make new products.4. Other areas may collect plastic pots, tubs and trays, but currently very little is recycled. Most of it is used to make electricity.

How do I report fly-tipping on council property?

Why can I not recycle other types of plastic in my mixed recycling bin?

The only types of plastic you can recycle in your mixed recycling bin at home are plastic bottles.

Why only plastic bottles? A bottle and a food tray are made of the same type of plastic but not the same grade of plastic, therefore the grades of plastic will behave differently when they are recycled, as they melt at different temperatures. Our Materials Recycling Facility cannot sort between the different grade of plastics, and so they can’t be recycled together.

There are really good reasons why we can only recycle plastic bottles in Greater Manchester:

1. Manufacturers that make new products demand high grade plastics. High Grade = Plastic Bottles.2. Plastics like pots, tubs and trays are a low grade plastic and the manufacturers just don’t want these.3. During the recycling process, the plastic is melted. Plastic bottles and plastic pots, tubs and trays melt at different temperatures, meaning the pots, tubs and trays contaminate the bottles and can’t be used to make new products.4. Other areas may collect plastic pots, tubs and trays, but currently very little is recycled. Most of it is used to make electricity.

Contact Form

If you have been through the complaints procedure with SUEZ and you are unhappy with the response provided you may wish to escalate your complaint to GMwaste@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk

Recycle for Greater Manchester will use the information you provide on this form to help us stay in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. Please let us know all the ways you would like to hear from us: